Numerical Simulations of Carbon-Fibre Impregnation with a Polymer as an Anisotropic Permeability Medium.

The impregnation process of carbon fibres with polymers is challenging to model due to the system's complexity, particularly concerning the following aspects: the complex rheology of the polymeric matrices and the presence of solid, continuous fibres, both with anisotropic properties, and the interaction between solid and fluid, which can change the displacement of fibres into a cyclic dependence. In this work, an interesting approach was considered by setting the fibres as a porous medium whose properties were calculated with microscale/macroscale cycle modelling. In the microscale modelling stage, two main assumptions can be made: (i) a homogeneous distribution with a representative cell or (ii) a stochastic distribution of fibres. The solution to the abovementioned flow and fibre distribution problem can severely differ with only a slight change in a single parameter for a given set of processing parameters. Therefore, the influence of some of them during the fibre impregnation process was evaluated, allowing a shortcut for the polymer through a gap between fibres and the bottom wall of the extrusion die. The range of investigated values regarding the gap enables one to cover good impregnation conditions up to the occurrence of the shortcut and consequent poor impregnation quality. These studies were performed with numerical simulations with circa 126,000 degrees of freedom, considering the discretisation mesh elements and the unknowns (pressure and two velocity components).

Impacto da pandemia de Covid-19 na realização de exames diagnósticos cardiológicos no Brasil: uma análise do SUS e da medicina suplementar / Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the performance of cardiological diagnostic exams in Brazil: an analysis of the SUS and supplementary medicine

RESUMO: Introdução/Justificativa: A pandemia de COVID-19 provocou redirecionamento massivo dos recursos do sistema de saúde brasileiro no atendimento aos pacientes, que aliado às medidas de isolamento social tiveram impacto sobre o diagnóstico e tratamento das doenças cardiovasculares. Até o momento não há dados precisos sobre o impacto desses eventos sobre a realização de exames diagnósticos cardiológicos nos primeiros 2 anos da pandemia. OBJETIVO: avaliar o número de exames diagnósticos cardiológicos no SUS e na medicina suplementar nos anos de 2019 a 2021 no Brasil. MÉTODO: coletamos dados referentes aos exames de teste ergométrico, ecocardiograma (repouso e estresse; transtorácico e transesofágico), cintilografia (perfusão de estresse e repouso), cineangiocoronariografia, tomografia computadorizada e ressonância magnética cardíaca realizados nos anos de 2019, 2020 e 2021 no SUS e na medicina suplementar. Os dados foram agrupados por ano, método diagnóstico, sistema (público ou privado) e região do Brasil e os resultados foram comparados. RESULTADOS: no ano de 2019, foram realizados 10,5 milhões de exames diagnósticos cardiológicos (SUS+suplementar); em 2020 houve queda para 8,2 milhões; já em 2021 houve recuperação parcial, com 10,3 milhões de exames realizados. As tendências diferiram conforme o sistema: enquanto no SUS observou-se queda de 24,5% em 2020 e queda de 5,2% em 2021 (referentes a 2019), na saúde suplementar encontramos queda de 20,7% em 2020 e queda de 0,2% em 2021 (referentes a 2019). A avaliação por método diagnóstico também mostrou comportamento heterogêneo: teste ergométrico, cintilografia miocárdica e cateterismo apresentaram queda em 2020 e recuperação apenas parcial em 2021 em relação aos nùmeros de 2019; já o ecocardiograma mostrou queda em 2019 com crescimento em 2021 acima dos números de 2019; por fim, tomografia computadorizada e ressonância magnética cardíacas apresentaram aumento contínuo ao longo de 2020 e 2021 em relação a 2019. Por fim, a análise por região também mostrou comportamento heterogêneo: regiões Nordeste e Sudeste apresentaram queda em 2020 com recuperação parcial em 2021; já as regiões Norte, Centro- Oeste e Sul apresentaram queda em 2020 seguida de aumento em 2021 acima do número de exames realizados em 2019. CONCLUSÃO: a pandemia de COVID-19 provocou impacto significativo na realização de exames diagnósticos cardiológicos no Brasil, com impacto heterogêneo conforme o método, região e sistema de saúde analisado.

Science communication activities at research institutes in Brazil: Recent expansion on the way to professionalization.

This study was designed to analyze the science communication activities geared towards the general public undertaken at Brazilian research institutes. We identified how often such activities are carried out and what human and financial resources are available for them. The results suggest that between the years 2013 and 2017 there was an increase in science communication by research institutes responsible for a wide range of activities. To communicate with the public, the 169 institutes studied tend to use traditional communication channels more than social media. However, most of them did not have designated communication teams, drawing on specialized personnel from their host institution. Although they do engage in intensive communication activities, Brazilian research institutes still lack more a structured approach to science communication.

Happier and further by going together: The importance of software team behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic, and the associated move to remote work and the resulting changes to the normal work routine, have introduced a plethora of new difficulties and challenges for software developers. Recent research has focused on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the developer's wellness, productivity, team collaboration, job satisfaction, and work-life balance. However, research exploring the association between these feelings and team behaviour during such a crisis period has not been previously developed. Moreover, previous research has indicated that organisations are still struggling to understand the pandemic and its relationship with both team behaviour and developer feelings. To address this gap, we analysed how COVID-19 influences a developer's happiness and their feelings of (un)happiness associated with the team's behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic. A state-of-the-art analysis helped to design a scale that we used in a cross-sectional study of 102 software developers. To test the proposed hypotheses, we conducted exploratory factor analysis and principal component analysis. Our results highlight that happiness positively influences a team's behaviour and that unhappiness negatively affects their work results and productivity. These findings provide software companies and organisations with a better understanding of the importance of team behaviour on individual happiness during crises. These results provide information that managers and companies can use to mitigate potentially negative effects.

Inovação, possibilidades e limitações no uso de rastreador ocular na pesquisa em divulgação da ciência: um estudo sobre a importância da fonte de informação em textos sobre saúde / Innovation, possibilities and limitations in the use of an eye tracker in science communication research: a study on the importance of the source of information in health news / Innovación, posibilidades y limitaciones en el uso de un seguidor ocular en la investigación de divulgación científica: un estudio sobre la importancia de la fuente de información en textos de salud

Nosso estudo, fruto de uma parceria internacional, buscou aferir a importância dada por 23 leitores ao nome do veículo de publicação de quatro diferentes textos sobre temas de saúde, utilizando uma metodologia inovadora no campo de estudo acadêmico da divulgação científica ­ um rastreador ocular. Com ele, é possível mapear a cada instante o olhar do leitor e os pontos de fixação do olho sobre o texto, indicando a atenção do leitor. Apesar de o local de publicação ser considerado um critério importante de credibilidade da informação, nossos resultados, a partir da análise de 35.394 medições de fixações aferidas pelo rastreador ocular, indicam a pouca importância dada ao nome do veículo de publicação, ainda que o texto apresente características de notícias falsas.

Our study, the result of an international partnership, sought to assess the importance given by 23 readers to the name of the publication source for four different texts on health topics, using an innovative methodology in the academic study field of scientific communication ­ an eye tracker. With an eye tracker, it is possible to map at every moment the reader's eyes and points of fixation of the eye on the text, indicating the reader's attention. Although the source of publication is considered an important criterion for the credibility of the information, our results, from the analysis of 35,394 measurements of fixations measured by the eye tracker, indicate the little importance given to the name of the publication source, even though the text presents fake news characteristics.

Nuestro estudio, resultado de una colaboracion internacional, buscó evaluar la importancia que le dan 23 lectores al nombre del vehículo de publicación de cuatro textos diferentes sobre temas de salud, utilizando una metodología innovadora en el campo de estudio académico de la divulgación científica ­ un seguidor ocular. Con él, es posible mapear en todo momento los ojos del lector y los puntos de fijación de la mirada sobre el texto, indicando la atención del lector. Si bien el lugar de publicación se considera un criterio importante para la credibilidad de la información, nuestros resultados, del análisis de 35.394 medidas de fijaciones medidas por el seguidor ocular, indican la poca importancia que se le da al nombre del vehículo de publicación, aunque que el texto presenta características de noticias falsas.

O Teatro como estratégia de engajamento de jovens no enfrentamento da Aids / El teatro como estrategia de compromiso de jóvenes en el enfrentamiento del Sida / Theater as a strategy for youth engagement in the fight against Aids

Apesar dos avanços no enfrentamento à Aids, registra-se, na última década, o aumento de infecções por HIV entre jovens. Isso motivou o Museu da Vida a produzir uma peça sobre HIV/Aids voltada a esse público. Neste artigo, apresentamos resultados de estudo conduzido com o público do espetáculo, com idades de 11 a 19 anos, baseado na observação de nove apresentações, cinco debates pós-peça e 220 questionários. Além de recepção positiva e forte adesão dos espectadores, verificamos que a peça foi capaz de engajá-los no debate sobre HIV/Aids. Contudo, observamos que faltam espaços de diálogo sobre o assunto, o que pode estar associado à manutenção de estigma e discriminação. Concluímos que a estratégia de unir Saúde e Teatro em uma atividade de divulgação científica foi bem-sucedida, mas ainda há muitos desafios relacionados ao enfrentamento do HIV/Aids, sobretudo entre os jovens. (AU)

A pesar de los avances en el enfrentamiento del Sida, en la última década se registra un aumento de infecciones por VIH entre los jóvenes. Esto motivó al Museo de la Vida a producir una obra de teatro sobre VIH/Sida dirigida a ese público. En este artículo presentamos resultados del estudio realizado con el público de 11 a 19 años del espectáculo, basado en la observación de nueve presentaciones, cinco debates posfunción y 220 cuestionarios. Además de la recepción positiva y de la fuerte adhesión de los espectadores, verificamos que la obra teatral fue capaz de hacerlos participar en el debate sobre VIH/Sida. No obstante, observamos que faltan espacios de diálogo sobre la cuestión, lo que puede estar asociado al mantenimiento del estigma y de la discriminación. Concluimos que la estrategia de unir salud y teatro en una actividad de divulgación científica fue exitosa, pero que hay todavía muchos desafíos relacionados al enfrentamiento de VIH/Sida entre los jóvenes. Palabras clave: Salud Mental. Covid-19. Brasil. (AU)

Despite advances in the fight against Aids, there has been an increase in HIV infections among youngsters in the last decade. This motivated the Museu da Vida to produce a play about HIV/Aids aimed at this audience. We present results of a study conducted with the public of 11 to 19 years based on the observation of nine presentations, five post-play debates and 220 questionnaires. Besides the positive reception and strong adherence from viewers, we observed the play was able to engage them in the debate on HIV/Aids. However, there is a lack of dialogue on the issue, which may be associated with the maintenance of stigma and discrimination. We conclude that the strategy of uniting health and theater in a science communication activity was successful, but there are still many challenges in terms of coping with HIV/Aids, especially among youngsters. (AU)

[Science on TV: perceptions among adolescents in three Brazilian cities]. / Ciência na TV: percepções de adolescentes de três cidades brasileiras.

Television is an important mediator of cultural practices and contributes to the construction of social representations, including representations of science. Considering that teenagers are a main target audience, here we analyze how TV content can help build perceptions of science among these young people. Twelve focus groups were held with students from public and private schools in three Brazilian cities: Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais), and Belém (Pará). We observed that although stereotypes of science and scientists did emerge in the discussions, the students demonstrated a more detailed understanding of scientific activity, as well as the TV programming itself.

Importante mediação de práticas culturais, a TV contribui na construção de representações sociais, incluindo a da ciência. Considerando que adolescentes são um dos seus principais públicos, visamos analisar de que forma os conteúdos televisivos podem contribuir para a construção de percepções sobre ciência nesses jovens. Realizamos 12 grupos focais com alunos de escolas públicas e privadas em três cidades brasileiras: Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Belo Horizonte (MG) e Belém (PA). Observamos que, embora estereótipos da ciência e dos cientistas tenham emergido nas discussões, os jovens demonstraram compreender a atividade científica de maneira mais aprofundada, assim como a própria programação televisiva.

Correction: Public communication by research institutes compared across countries and sciences: Building capacity for engagement or competing for visibility?

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235191.].

Ciência na TV: percepções de adolescentes de três cidades brasileiras / Science on TV: perceptions among adolescents in three Brazilian cities

Resumo Importante mediação de práticas culturais, a TV contribui na construção de representações sociais, incluindo a da ciência. Considerando que adolescentes são um dos seus principais públicos, visamos analisar de que forma os conteúdos televisivos podem contribuir para a construção de percepções sobre ciência nesses jovens. Realizamos 12 grupos focais com alunos de escolas públicas e privadas em três cidades brasileiras: Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Belo Horizonte (MG) e Belém (PA). Observamos que, embora estereótipos da ciência e dos cientistas tenham emergido nas discussões, os jovens demonstraram compreender a atividade científica de maneira mais aprofundada, assim como a própria programação televisiva.

Abstract Television is an important mediator of cultural practices and contributes to the construction of social representations, including representations of science. Considering that teenagers are a main target audience, here we analyze how TV content can help build perceptions of science among these young people. Twelve focus groups were held with students from public and private schools in three Brazilian cities: Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais), and Belém (Pará). We observed that although stereotypes of science and scientists did emerge in the discussions, the students demonstrated a more detailed understanding of scientific activity, as well as the TV programming itself.

Public communication by research institutes compared across countries and sciences: Building capacity for engagement or competing for visibility?

Leading academic institutions, governments, and funders of research across the world have spent the last few decades fretting publicly about the need for scientists and research organisations to engage more widely with the public and be open about their research. While a global literature asserts that public communication has changed from a virtue to a duty for scientists in many countries and disciplines, our knowledge about what research institutions are doing and what factors drive their 'going public' is very limited. Here we present the first cross-national study of N = 2,030 research institutes within universities and large scientific organisations in Brazil, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. We find that institutes embrace communication with non-peers and do so through a variety of public events and traditional news media-less so through new media channels-and we find variation across countries and sciences, yet these are less evident than we expected. Country and disciplinary cultures contribute to the level of this communication, as do the resources that institutes make available for the effort; institutes with professionalised staff show higher activity online. Future research should examine whether a real change in the organisational culture is happening or whether this activity and resource allocation is merely a means to increase institutional visibility.

Zika e microcefalia no Facebook da Fiocruz: a busca pelo diálogo com a população e a ação contra os boatos sobre a epidemia / Zika and microcephaly on Fiocruz's Facebook: the search for dialogue with the population and the action against rumors about the epidemic / Zika y microcefalia en Facebook de Fiocruz: la búsqueda por el diálogo con la población y la acción contra los rumores sobre la epidemia

Este artigo analisa a abordagem da epidemia de zika e microcefalia pela página da Fundação Oswaldo Cruz no Facebook entre maio de 2015 e maio de 2016. Seguindo procedimentos da análise de conteúdo, destacamos características das postagens sobre o tema a partir de sua frequência, enquadramento, formato e engajamento. Também analisamos qualitativamente parte dos comentários das postagens de maior engajamento. Os resultados mostram o destaque recebido pelo tema na página e evidenciam a priorização do enfoque científico e político-institucional, o emprego da ciência para conferir credibilidade aos conteúdos e a popularidade das postagens sobre boatos junto ao público. Constatou-se, ainda, pouca interação por parte da Fiocruz e pequena variação dos formatos empregados nas postagens, com priorização de recursos tradicionais.

This article analyzes how Oswaldo Cruz Foundation's page on Facebook approached the epidemic of zika and microcephaly between May 2015 and May 2016. Following procedures of the content analysis, we highlight characteristics of the posts on the topic based on their frequency, frame, format and engagement. We also qualitatively analyze part of the comments of the posts with the highest level of engagement. The results show the great attention received by the theme on the page and bring to evidence the prioritization of the scientific and political-institutional frame, the use of science to confer credibility to the content and the popularity of the posts about rumors among the public. There was also little interaction on the part of Fiocruz and small variation of the formats used in the posts, with prioritization of traditional resources.

Este artículo analiza el enfoque de la epidemia de zika y microcefalia por la página de la Fundación Oswaldo Cruz en Facebook entre mayo de 2015 y mayo de 2016. Siguiendo procedimientos del análisis de contenido, destacamos características de las publicaciones sobre el tema a partir de su frecuencia, encuadramiento, formato y participación. También analizamos cualitativamente parte de los comentarios de las publicaciones de mayor participación. Los resultados muestran el destaque recibido por el tema en la página y evidencian la priorización del enfoque científico y político-institucional, el empleo de la ciencia para conferir credibilidad a los contenidos y la popularidad de los postes sobre rumores ante el público. Se constató, además, poca interacción por parte de la Fiocruz y pequeña variación de los formatos empleados en las publicaciones, con priorización de recursos tradicionales.

A Comparative Study between Knocked-Down Aligned Carbon Nanotubes and Buckypaper-Based Strain Sensors.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are one of the most promising materials in sensing applications due to their electrical and mechanical properties. This paper presents a comparative study between CNT Buckypaper (BP) and aligned CNT-based strain sensors. The Buckypapers were produced by vacuum filtration of commercial CNTs dispersed in two different solvents, N,N-Dimethylformamide (DMF) and ethanol, forming freestanding sheets, which were cut in 10 × 10 mm squares and transferred to polyimide (PI) films. The morphology of the BP was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The initial electrical resistivity of the samples was measured, and then relative electrical resistance versus strain measurements were obtained. The results were compared with the knocked-down vertically aligned CNT/PI based sensors previously reported. Although both types of sensors were sensitive to strain, the aligned CNT/PI samples had better mechanical performance and the advantage of inferring strain direction due to their electrical resistivity anisotropic behavior.

Physical legacy of freshwater bivalves: Effects of habitat complexity on the taxonomical and functional diversity of invertebrates.

Bivalves may play a major role in structuring aquatic communities. This may be especially relevant in aquatic communities dominated by non-native invasive bivalves, which can contribute to the increase of habitat homogenization. In this study, we assess how habitat homogenization, through the reduction of empty bivalve shells identities, influences the macroinvertebrate assemblages. Towards this end, a manipulative experiment with the empty shells of two native (Potomida littoralis and Unio delphinus) and one non-native (Corbicula fluminea) species was performed. Seven treatments were prepared, three of them consisting of homogeneous substrates using shells of one species, and four of them consisting in heterogeneous substrates using more than one species. The associated fauna colonizing different treatments was analyzed through taxonomic and trait-based approaches. Our results showed that the substrate complexity influenced the density of macroinvertebrates, with the heterogeneous treatments significantly yielding more dense assemblages. Also, the trait patterns differed among the levels of habitat heterogeneity, influencing mainly organisms that feed on microphytes of both small and big sizes, that inhabit areas with slow to moderate water flow, and that have short and long live cycles. Further, the functional diversity was not influenced by the substrate heterogeneity. Therefore, the habitat homogenization, through the accumulation of non-native C. fluminea empty shells in the river bottom, did not affect the functional diversity of the macroinvertebrate assemblages.

Synthesis and conformational analysis of bicyclic mimics of α- and ß-D-glucopyranosides adopting the biologically relevant ²,5B conformation.

The synthesis of three conformationally locked d-glucopyranoside analogs displaying the hydroxyl pattern of the parent sugar is described. A two carbon bridge connecting the C-2 and C-5 atoms of the pyranose ring allows a torsion of the sugar ring toward a (2,5)B conformation as confirmed by conformational analysis. This conformation is strongly believed to be adopted by the oxacarbenium ion-like transition state of several inverting glucosidases.

Direct experimental evidence for the high chemical reactivity of α- and ß-xylopyranosides adopting a (2,5)B conformation in glycosyl transfer.

The effect of a (2,5)B boat conformation on xyloside reactivity has been investigated by studying the hydrolysis and glycosylation of a series of synthetic xyloside analogues based on a 2-oxabicyclo[2.2.2]octane framework, which forces the xylose analogue to adopt a (2,5)B conformation. The locked ß-xylosides were found to hydrolyze 100-1200 times faster than methyl ß-D-xylopyranoside, whereas the locked α-xylosides hydrolyzed up to 2×10(4) times faster than methyl α-D-xylopyranoside. A significant rate enhancement was also observed for the glycosylation reaction. The high reactivity of these conformers can be related to the imposition of a (2,5)B conformation, which approximates a transition state (TS) boat conformation. In this way, the energy penalty required to go from the chair to the TS conformation is already paid. These results parallel and support the observation that the GH-11 xylanase family force their substrate to adopt a (2,5)B conformation to achieve highly efficient enzymatic glycosidic bond hydrolysis.

pH-dependent mutarotation of 1-thioaldoses in water. Unexpected behavior of (2s)-D-aldopyranoses.

The pH-dependent mutarotation of 1-thioaldopyranoses in aqueous media has been investigated. Anomerization readily occurred at lower and neutral pH for all aldopyranoses studied, whereas mainly for (2S)-D-aldopyranoses at higher pH. 1-Thio-D-mannopyranose and 1-thio-D-altropyranose showed very strong pH dependence where the anomeric equilibrium ratios changed dramatically from a preference for the ß-anomer at lower pH to the α-anomer at higher pH.

Synthesis of a bicyclic analog of L-iduronic acid adopting the biologically relevant 2S0 conformation.

The synthesis of a bicyclic analogue of the naturally occurring alpha-L-iduronic acid locked in a biologically active (2)S0 skewboat conformation is disclosed. The desired (2)S0 conformation has been obtained by tethering the C-2 and C-5 carbon atoms of the sugar ring with a dimethyloxy bridge and confirmed by NMR and molecular modeling. The new mimic displays the exact hydroxyl pattern of alpha-L-iduronic acid, a major monosaccharide component of glycosaminoglycans and thus represents a closer mimic of the latter, compared to previously reported bicyclic analogs.

Jornalismo científico na América Latina: um estudo de caso de sete jornais da região / Science journalism in Latin America: a case study of seven newspapers in the region

O objetivo desta dissertação é mostrar um panorama da cobertura de temas da ciência e da tecnologia na imprensa latino-americana a partir de estudo de caso sete jornais da região. A metodologia de estudo do objeto conjuga análise quantitativa e qualitativa. Foram analisadas todas as reportagens publicadas na editoria de Ciência durante o mês de abril de 2004 nos jornais: La Nación, da Argentina; El Mercurio, do Chile; Mural, do México; El Comercio, do Equador; O Globo, Folha de S. Paulo e Jornal do Commercio/Pernambuco, do Brasil. No total, foram coletados 482 textos. Com base nos resultados obtidos na etapa quantitativa, iniciamos a etapa qualitativa, quando enviamos um questionário aos jornalistas responsáveis pelas editorias de ciência dos jornais analisados. Entre os resultados, observamos que temas relacionados às ciências biológicas e à medicina têm presença importante nos jornais analisados, Outro resultado importante de nosso estudo foi que os cientistas têm papel de destaque na consolidação das matérias jornalísticas, sendo considerado pelos jornalistas como principal fonte de informações, tanto para sugestões de matérias como para consolidação dos textos. Os jornalistas também apontaram que a relação entre eles e os cientistas têm melhorado ns últimos anos e que, embora ainda haja tensões, há um esforço conjunto no momento de elaborar as reportagens. Observamos, ainda, um número reduzido de reportagens que apresentam o cientista sob o estereótipo de pessoas dissociadas da realidade. Como há ainda poucos estudos sobre o jornalismo científico na América Latina e menos ainda que façam uma comparação entre países, acreditamos que trabalhos como o nosso fornecem subsídios para estimular o aperfeiçoamento da cobertura jornalística de temas de ciência e tecnologia, estimular o debate acadêmico e fomentar novos estudos na área.